Booster brake



px E59 34% C. E. BRICKER BOOSTER BRAKE Fned'Aprn- 2e. 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 plied.

Pateirite'd 'Api'. 15, 19,47 ,Y

Boos'rna sans l om E. sucker, Akron, om, assigner to' Windoof Delaware ADplicaticnApril 26.

' 15 oisans. (01. Iss-152) Corporation. Akron, ()hioya corporation of 1944, serial No. 532,707

y 'I'his invention relates to brakes -for rotary y. members including vehicle wheels and, in par- Y' ticular. to that y class oi brakes known as disk brakes. Y

Heretoiore, it has been known to provide wheel brakes with a mechanism or servo device whereby itself. Known constructions, however, 'are open to various objections, including locking tendencies, size restrictions, and inability to achieve thedsired braking force, and do not fully meet Vthe requirements which are essential when a heavy vehicle. for instance, an airplane atl great landing speed, must be stopped within a relatively short distance by manually-actuated means. A very dii'licult engineering problem is presented when a manually-operated brake hav` the braking force is eiected by the wheel torque ing foot pedal control moved through a distance.

ci not more than four inches with a torce of 100 pounds must be utilized to stop within a reasonable distance an airplane, for example, weighing up to l or more tons. A iive-ton airplane landing at a speed of` 82 miles per hour possesses over 2,000,000 foot pounds oi` kinetic energy which must be absorbed.

: This invention, which is an improvement over prior brake constructions, is particularlyapplicable for hydraulic brakes, however, its newV principle, which includes a braking torce booster unit, may also be adapted for brake constructions operated by mechanical means,

The general object o! the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive, long-lived, readily operated, non-locking, sell-energizing brake oi large work-absorbing capacity, and, particularly,

a brake adapted to use with large airplanes.

' Another object oi this invention is to provide means through which the braking torce applied by the operator to the brake disk is greatly multi- Another object of dthis invention is to provide l \v 2 separation of the main brake unit from the brake fluid main iced-line while'the brake is in oper" ation and providing hydraulic communication with it while the brake is inactive.

Another object of the'invention is the provision of braking apparatus including movably mountv ed means for clamping on a braking disk.' booster unit means energized by the movement of the movably mounted means, and main brake uni energized by the booster unit.

The aforesaid objects of this invention and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds are achieved by providing a hydraulic booster brake unit actuated from a master cylinder by the operator. The booster brake cylinder is mounted Von a lever which isl swingable about a iixed pivot and'has limited movement. -It is operatively connected by mechanical means to a booster unit to which it imparts its brakingeiorce to build up iiuld pressure therein which again is transmitted 'to cylinders in a main brake unit. Because oi the much larger cross-sectional area ci these cylinders over that o! the booster unit, the -braking force is accordingly multiplied and thus is more eiiective.

For a betterunderstanding of the invention.

reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view taken on line II-H of cross-sectional view .in larger scale of the checkv i view oi onefembodiment of the invention partly shown in cross-section; Fig. -2 is a cross-sectional Fig. f1; Fig. 3 is a lvalve inserted in the main brake unit; Fig. 4 is a view, similar to that of Fig. i-oi a modica a brake including a swingable booster brake unit transmitting its braking torce to a booster unit hydraulically connected to pressure means oi a wheel, a use to which the brake oithe'invention' f mainbralreunit..V

Another object o! this invention' is the pro'-n vision of brake apparatus .wherein the application oi the wheel torque exerted upon the piston o! a hydraulic booster unit is for the purpose or mu1tip1ying the braking forcebycimperung the tion of the invention; Fig. 5 is a cross=sectional view taken on line V--V oia'. a; and Fig. 0 is a cross-sectional view taken on line V--V o Fig, 4. L; Although the principles of this invention are illustrated only in connection with a hydraulically-operated brake and a' single wheel, the inl vention is also adapted for operation with a mechanically-operated booster brake unit and for pressure built up in the booster unit to oneI or' more pressure cylinders oi greater single or overall cross-sectional area disposed in the main brake unit than that of the booster unit.

Another object of this invention double-wheel arrangement, Also, the invention has been shown in conjunction with an airplane is particularly adapted. However, the principles fot the invention are broadly applicable to braking movable members of substantially"v any and all'kinds. v Referring now to the Figures 1 and 2, the numeral l0 indicates an airplane wheel rotatable about ashait I2 having a ilange Il and being is hydrsuue se supported by a landing gear structure (not shown) of an airplane. The wheel Il is interlocked by keys i6 fastened to the Wheel rim with a brake disk i8 which rotates together with the wheel.

The brake includes a booster brake unit 20, indicated as a whole, consisting of a brake shoe 22 in the form of a hydraulic cylinder at one side of the brake disk and of a flange-shaped shoe 24 at the opposite side thereof. 'I'he shoes 22 and 24 are held together and fastened to one end of a curved lever 26-by bolts 28. The lever, spaced at its other end from the flange |4 by a spacer 30, is swingable about a fixed pivot or bflt 32 passing through the flange |4. To prevent axial displacement of the offset, swinging end of the lever 26, it carries fastened thereto two keys 34 which can slide in a groove 36 of the guide piece 38 which is fastened to the flange 4 by head bolts 40.

'I'he cylinder 22, has a brake fluid inlet 46 connectable with a master cylinder (not shown) actuated by the operator. The cylinder movably receives a piston 48 sealed by a flexible cup 50 having a metal center piece 52 embedded therein against which butts an adjusting screw 54. This screw, turning in the inside thread of the nipple 56, which, in turn, is screwed into the cylinder head 58, holds the piston in proper position. A packing 60 and a cap nut 62 screwed over` the nipple 56 seal the adjusting screw against leakage of brake fluid. Into the open end of the cylinder 22 is screwed a, lock ring 66 holding a spring 68 against the piston 48, and, passing through the opening of the lock ring is a movable support 10 in contact with the piston and carrying at its other end a brake lining 12 of circular shape facing the brake disk. Opposite thereof at the other side of the brake disk the shoe 24 has attached to it a similar brake lining 12. .l

The lever 26 has attached to it by a pivot` 14 a push rod 16 which has suflicient side clearance to engage the socket of a piston 18 provided with a packing ring 80 and movable in the hoesten cylinder 82 which is fastened in fixed position to the wheel shaft flange I4 by screws 84. For the purpose of compensating for fluid expansion the piston 18 is made slidable on the piston rod 16 by providing an oblong hole 86 in the piston rod in which the pin 88 of the piston is movable and a spring 90 between washers 92 resting against the piston 16 and the lever 26, respectively. By connecting conduit 94 the pressure built up in the booster cylinder is transmitted through the operating liquid to one or more cylinders |02 forming part of a main brake unit |04 (indicated as a. Whole).

This main brake unit |04 includes two brake shoes |06 and |08, on opposite sides of the brake disk I8, and connected together by head screws 0. The brake shoe |06 is fastened by the bolts 32, 40, 84, and I2 to the fixed flange I4 and contains a brake lining ||6 reinforced ,by a steel plate |8 and having button-shaped bosses |20 passing through the plate ||8 and fitting into sockets |22 of the brake shoe |06. lThe brake shoe |08 is provided with a plurality, for example three, pressure cylinders |02 interconnected by holes |24 and |26 and the middle cylinder having an inlet |28 through which the pressure liquid is forced from the booster cylinder 82 by means of the conduit 94. In each one of the cylinders 02 moves a piston |30 sealed against outflow of brake fluid by a flexible cup |32 into which is embedded a metal disk |34 free in the center for being contacted by an adjusting screw |36 inserted into the cylinder head |38, sealed by a packing |40 and tightened by a gland bushing |42 provided with an inside thread. A retaining plate |44 resting against a spring ring |46 fitting into a groove in the cylinder wall serves as a support for the springs |48 which hold the piston under liquid pressure against the adjusting screw |36 slightly spaced from the cylinder head. An annular cavity |50, having the width of the cylinder diameter and being of suitable depth between adjacent cylinders, takes up the brake lining |52 provided with button-shaped bosses |54 inserted in cavities |56 o'f the reinforcing plate |58 in Contact with the outer end of the piston |30.

The modification of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6 is adapted to provide a self-energizing braking action upon rotation of the wheel in either direction, whereas the form of the invention of Figs. 1 to 3 acts only when the wheel is rotating in one direction. More particularly, in Figs. 4 to 6 the booster brake unit 20a, controlled by the operator, is of a construction identical to that of the one-way brake described. It cooperates with the brake disk |10 which i-s interlocked with the wheel |12 by keys |14 fastened thereto. The wheel is fixed with the shaft |16 which is journaled (not shown) in an airplane landing gear structure |18 provided with an end flange |80. The brake unit 20a is carried by a guide plate |82, which is spaced from the guide plate |84 at the opposite side of the ange |80 by a distance piece |86 and the guide plate |84 is spaced by a distance piece |88 from a cam lever |00. The guide plates |82 and |84 are fastened by bolts |92 to the lever |90 which is swingable about the wheel shaft.

The lever is provided at its outer end with symmetrical cams |94 and is journaled at the inner end on a bushing |96 pressed upon a hublike extension |98 of a set 0f brake shoes 200. The brake shoes 200 `are made in one piece of light material, usually magnesium, which is fastened by bolts 202, passing through shouldered steel bushings 204 in the brake shoe, tothe flange 80. A retaining ring 206 screwed into the brake shoe holds the cam lever in place, The brake shoes 200 form a part of the main brake unit,

indicated as a whole by the numeral 2 I2, and are integrally united with two pressure booster cylinders 2| 4, one for forward and one for backward movement of the wheel. Each cylinder 2|4 slidably receives a piston 2|6, a sealing ring 2|8, and a piston rod 220. The piston rod 220 has a forked end 222 which carries, by a bolt 224, a roller 226.

Each piston 2| 6 is actuated against the operating liquid of the cylinders 2|4 by a cam |94 on cam lever |90, which cam eng-ages the roller 226 when the booster brake unit 20a is applied tothe brake disk |10. 'Ihe cams in swingout position and with the piston pushed back as far as possible are shown by dotted lines. 'I'he contour of the cam cooperating with the roller 226 is so shaped that the' piston pressure will act upon the cam in a way. to produce a side component compensating the roller friction to avoid bending stresses in the piston rod as much as possi-ble. In other words, the point of engagement of the roller with the cam lies -somewhat off the center line of the piston rodtowards the outside of the cam. A spring 228 supported by a ring 230, held by a spring lock ring 232 in the cylinder wall and pressing against the piston 2|6 may be applied for compensating fluid expansion.

Each booster cylinder 2|4 is hydraulically connected by holes 240 with one of the two pressure chambers or cylinders 242 provided on one side of the brake sho e set 206. The cylinders 242 are placement is required at relatively high pressure. connected with each other by holes 244. Each The one cubic inch displacement of 600 pounds cylinder 242 is provided atA one side with a removpressure which can be generated by an operator head 246 containing a is not sufficient for this purpose, but it is sufable hat-shaped cylinder K cient to adequately operate the booster brake sealing ring 248 towards the cylinder wall and 250 snapped unit 20, which, when clamped to the brake disk being held in place by a spring ring into a groove in the cylinder wall. A piston 256 I8 of the wheel, serves to operate the booster of diametrically U-shaped cross-section carrying unit as above set forth to provide the desired a sealing ring 258 in a groove 260 and leaving an displacement and pressure on the mainbrake annular space of low height between itself and 10 unit |04.

booster unit 82 and its assothe cylinder head 246 is movable in the cylinder The design of the 242 and fits loosely over the offset cylinder portion ciated arm 26is generally such that the pressure which is built up in it is kept slightly lower than of the cylinder head. The piston 256 is generally from the master cylinder to the additionally sealed by a second ring 262 inserted that transmitted in a groove 264 in the cylinder wall. Into a cavity booster brake unit. This relation of pressure 266 in the piston head fits a button-shaped boss facilitates renewal of brake fluid in the system cribed. It might be noted, also,

268 formed on a reinforcing plate 210 to which as hereinafter des because the space between the brake linings and is attached the brake lining 212 facing one side of the brake disk |10. An adjusting screw 286 the brake disk can be kept very small, the length on the cylinder head is provided to 'adjust the 20 of the booster cylinder can be made relatively proper distance between brake lining and brake short.

The renewal of any brake fluid which should disk. It is sealed against leakage of pressure liquid by a packing 282 in combination with an eventually leak out during a certain period of inside-threaded gland 284. operation can be readily achieved by having all The brake lining 286 on the opposite side of the units hydraulically connected, as by nipple |64, brake disk is attached to a reinforcing plate 288 with the feed line coming from the master cylinwhich has button-like bosses 290 fitting into corder while the brake is not operated. During brake, a check valve inserted` in ities 292 in the brake shoe 290. operation of the Between the cylinders 242 are disposed springs the main brake unit shuts off this brake unit 294 in holes 296 and held under tension against from the main fluid feed line by the greater preswashers 298 by head screws 306 fastened into the sure in the feed line. plate 210 of the brake lining 212 for the purpose More particularly, the brake fluid feed line |60 of retracting the brake lining from the brake disk. coming from the master cylinder actuated by Ithe Although not shown in the drawing, the brake operator is provided with a T-tting |62 from which continues a flexible nipple |64, attached to fluid feed line, including a check valve in the main the movable booster brake unit, whereas the brake unit, will be similarly provided as shown in the construction of the one-way brake and middle branch of the T-fitting is attached to the stationary main brake unit. In this fluid hereinafter described.

Even though it is believed the operation of the inlet to the main brake unit is inserted a check brake device will be apparent from the foregoing valve |66 which is closed when the main fluid description, a brief review thereof will now be feed line is kept under pressure and which opens made for purposes of summary and simplification. outwardly when the pressure transmitted to the Attention should be directed to Figs. 1 to 3, albooster brake unit is released. Under such conthough it will be understood that the apparatus dition, any brake fluid which leaks out from of Figs. 4 to 6 functions similarly. 45 one of the cylinders during a braking operation. The main parts of this brake construction, asl will be immediately replaced from the main line. illustrated, are all interdependent and consist of With the use of the check valve |66 the springs a hydraulically-operated booster brake unit 29 shown in connection with the booster cylinder controlled from -a master cylinder '(not shown) pistons 18 and 2|6, respectively, for the compenactuated by the operator. This unit is attached sation of fluid expansion may be dispensed with, to the free end of a lever 26 which is; swingable since the fluid enclosed in the pressure cylinders about a fixed pivot. When the booster brake unit can freely expand through the check valve when is energized, its friction with the brake disk forces the brake is not in operation, that is, when no lt to push the piston in the booster cylinder- 82 pressure isinthe fluid feed line.

against the enclosed brake fluidand produces a It will -be understood, as above noted, that, while the brake is operated, the pressure apdesired pressure and displacement on the main brake unit |64. K plied to the booster brake cylinder will be al- By appropriately designing the stroke and ways greater than that developed in the booster diameter of the booster unit any desired volume cylinder and, accordingly, in the cylinders of the of displacement or working pressure desired can main brake unit, to prevent hydraulic communibe produced within relatively wide limits of recation between the two brake units. This conquirernent. It might be noted here, however, that dition is achieved by properly dimensioning the the usual function of the booster unit is not to diameters of the master cylinder, the booster increase the pressure of the braking fluid, albrake cylinder, and the booster Cylinder, as though this can be done if desired, but is to e5 heretofore described. Itshould be mentioned increase the volume of displacement without sacthat the booster brake unit allows for longitudinal rflce 0f Working'rressure. IIn other words, it brake disk movement so that if wear of the 1inhS been found that ifi manually-Operated brakes ings on booster brake and main brake units is te, the brake disk will still about all an operator can do is displace one cubic not at the same ra turn freely without binding in brake off position.

inch of fluid at a pressure of 600 pounds per square inch or the equivalent thereof, for exam- This also allows for disk dishing withoutcausple, two cubic inches at a pressure of 300 pounds ing brake drag. per square inch. Now, when-a large number of This invention is applicable to any vehicle braking cylinders are employed to absorb a large wheel, as well as to any movable or rotary memfoot-pound energy, then considerable fluid disber. Its application is of particular advantage responding cav Y 7 f 8 e for conditions where great dynamic energies must portion in a plane parallel to .that of the vfriction be destroyed, like in airplanes, within a limitedy disk. l time and distance. However, it .isl to be lmder- 6. In a booster brake, the combination o! a stood that this invention is not restricted to the revolvable wheel including a friction disk, a. hy-

' l .fir-l0 .unit is carried, guide lugs attached to said lever, l. In combination, a movable member, a brakland as'ta'tionary guide,- piece provided with a ing surface on the movable member, a fixed groove in which said lugs move in a plans parallel element associated with the movable memberl a to that of the brak disk.

booster brake unit adapted to have braking en. .7. A self-energized uidbrake oi.' large energy sagement with the braking Asurface of the movabsorption characteristics and requiring large able member, means mounting the booster brake volume iiuid displacementat relatively hish Dresmember, a. separate booster unit camed by the ed for rotation on the axle, braking surface on :Gxedelement to be energized by said booster the wheel, an arm pivotally'mounted adjacent brake unit substantially tangential to the movethe axle. a booster brake unit Carried by the ment thereof and in alignment with said booster free end'of the arm, said brake unit being adapted unit, main brake units carried'by the nxed eleto engage Iwith the braking surface, hydraulic ment adapted to engage with the braking surpressure-displacement units fixed to opposite sides face of the movablemember.' and means for enof the axle. cam means carried by the free end. ergizing the main brake units from the booster "of the arm and adapted t0 Operate one displace- 2. In a brake, the combination of a revolvable the wheel traveling in one direction, and to operwheel including` friction means, a booster brake ate the other displacement unit when the wheel means coactiva from both sides with said iricis traveling in the other direction, and main tion means and movable. to a limited extent fluid pressure .brake elements operable on the means, and main brake means coactive from bothv draulic booster brake unitmovable to a llimited brake unit actuated by the operator and being main brake unit and having roller-provided movable to a limited extent together with the piston rods and a cam-equipped lever attached brake unit and being substantially in alignment tour that the pressure caused by said cam upon upon the .brake disk a multiple oi' the force deso the cam moves. thereby transmitting the pressure veloped in the booster cylinder. thus developed in one of the booster umts to the 4. In a brake, the combination of a revolvable main brake Unit, depending on the ldirection of wheel including a brake disk, a hydraulic booster the Wheel rotation and compensating the roller .gij

' movable to a. limited extent together with the 55 9- In a boost: brake, the combination or n small diameter adapted to be operated .by the 4booster unit mechanically and operatively conbraking force of said booster unit and being sub.. nected with said booster .brake unit, a main brake stantially in alignment with a tangent on the so unit in hydraulic communication with said I circle on which the braking force acts, and a booster 111116. a brake iluid line connecting the with said booster cylinder and exerting upon the nection between said check valve and said brake `the booster cylinder. munication between said main brake unit and 5. In a booster brake, the combination of a said brake iiuid line while the brake is operated,

draulic booster brake unit having Jaws at opposite when the brake is not in operation.

sides of said disk loosely bolted together and 10. In a booster brake, the combination of "a operatively engageable therewith, a lever swing-k wheel including a. lfriction disk, a hydraulic able about a fixed pivot and having a free oiset booster brake cylinder, movable to a limited exend portion by which said booster brake unit is tent, cooperative with said disk and actuated carried, and guide means for said free lever end from the master cylinder through the operator wardly into the asians nected with said booster cylinder, and a checkv valve in said main pressure unit`opening out fluid pressure line and controlling the iiow therebetween, the cylinder diameters of the master cylinder, the 4booster brake cylinder, and the booster cylinder being' so dimensioned that the unit pressure in the iiuid pressure line, and, accordingly, in the booster brake cylinder, is greater than that in the booster and main brake cylinders when the brake is in operation.

11. In a brake, the combination of a revolvable wheel including a friction disk, a hydraulic booster brake unit cooperative with and movable to a limited extent together with said friction disk, a separate hydraulic booster cylinder, mechanical means operatively connecting the brake unit with the booster cylinder, said rnechanical means being positioned substantially tangential to the movement of the brake unit and in alignment with said booster cylinder, and a main brake unit hydraulically connected with said booster cylinder and acting upon said friction disk.

12. In a brake, the combination of a revolvable wheel including a brake disk, a hydraulic booster brake actuated by the operator and being arcuately movable to a limited extent together with the brake disk and coactive therewith, a separate stationary hydraulic booster cylinder of relatively long stroke but relatively small diameter adapted to be operated by the braking force of said brake booster unit and having its axis substantially in alignment with a tangent on the arc of the circle on which the force acts, and a main brake, in.c cluding pressure cylinders spaced from and communicating with each other and connected with said booster cylinder, each one of said main brake cylinders being of larger diameter than said booster cylinder and exerting upon the brake disk a multiple of the force developed in the booster cylinder.

13. In a booster brake, the combination ci a fixed position operated by.

revolvable wheel including a dat radiyposi tioned friction disk, a hydraulic booster brake unit adapted to grip and move thru a limited arc with said disk when actuated by the operator, a lever swingable about a fixed pivot positioned offset from the axis of the wheel, said lever having said brake unit attached to its free end at a distance from the axis of the wheel on the side substantially opposite that of the pivot, and a separate stationary'- booster cylinder operatively connected with said lever between its free end and the axis of the wheel in such a way that forces transmitted from the lever to the booster cylinder are directed substantially in alignment with the axis of the booster cylinder.

14. In combination in a hydraulic brake assembly, a booster brake, conduit means for supplying fluid under pressure to the booster brake, a main brake unit having a plurality of fluid operated cylinders, means energized by the booster brake for supplying fluid under pressure to the main brake unit, and fluid by-pass means connecting the conduit means with the main brake unit, said by-pass means normally being open but closing when the pressure in the-conduit means exceeds the pressure in the main brake unit.

15. In combination in a hydraulic brake, a booster brake, conduit means for supplying uid under pressure tothe booster brake, a main brake unit, means energized by the booster brake for supplying iiuid under pressure to the in brake unit, and uid by-pass means connecting the conduit means with the main brake unit.

CARL E. BRICKER.

The following references are of ille of this patent:

UNrrED STATES PATE record in the Number Name Date 2,351,041 Hawley .lune 13, 194e A1,704,762 Reynolds Mar, .712, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date @39,8% British Nov. 29, i935 

